How to add "Reasons Why" to the Decline action of a Approval Workflow

Jed Rusyniak

I am working on a an extensive approval workflow with numerous steps and approvers.  I am running into a challenge with getting the reasons why someone is declining a request to be part of the automation.  Is there a way to allow for the user to input comments to support their reasoning for hitting "Decline"?

Andrée Starå

Hi Jed,

The approvers can add a comment to the comment section in the approval's bottom. Another way if you need to add other information in other cells you can have automation send an update request after something is declined.

Would that work?

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting

Jed Rusyniak

I am not seeing the "Comment Section" that you are speaking of.  Please advise how i can make that visible. 

 

Jed Rusyniak

I have the Update Request option enabled right now, however it creates a clunky experience for the user who will be completing this task. 

Andrée Starå

On the action step in the automation > click on the hamburger menu on the upper right side (three dots) > Advanced options > Add the A comment field in the Column visibility section.

Did it work?

Best,

Andrée

Jed Rusyniak

Perfect.  That works excellent!

Jed Rusyniak

Excellent, this is working now. 

Andrée Starå

Excellent!

Happy to help!

Best,

Andrée

Lynette.Smith

I have "A Comment" field enabled but find the approvers miss making a comment even when declining.  Can the comment field be required?  If so, how?  

Andrée Starå

Hi,

Unfortunately, it's not possible at the moment to have the comment field be required, but it's a great idea!

Please submit an Enhancement Request when you have a moment.

As a workaround, I explored to have an update request sent automatically, but unfortunately, it's not possible to select the comment field as a condition.

Hope that helps!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting

kathlenew

Hi Andree,

I'm trying to add the comment box only if declined. How do I do this?

See image for how I've configured the approval request.

Thanks!

Kathlene

Andrée Starå

Hi Kathlene,

Unfortunately, it's not possible at the moment to only have the comment section shown when it's declined, but it's a great idea!

Please submit an Enhancement Request when you have a moment.

Hope that helps!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

MakeItHappen

Great that worked for me.

Can the Approver's comments be saved to a column in the Sheet? 

I can see the comment it in the Conversation column of the sheet.

Or is there another way for the Approver to update some column within the Approval Request.

 

Andrée Starå

Excellent!

Happy to help!

Regarding comment saved to a column, the third-party service, Zapier is an excellent option for this scenario. Is that an option for you?

Hope that helps!

 

Matt_newair

Am I missing something? I clicked the hamburger menu for the approval action step...advanced options and the pic attached are the only options I see. I do not see option for comments

Rebecca Olvera

I am also trying to enable the Comment options but I don't see that option. Can you point out what I'm doing wrong?